14 Budget Recipes Under $10 (Priced with Real Grocery Prices)

Grocery prices keep going up, and I know I am not the only one standing in the store doing math. So I priced out my recipes using real U.S. average grocery prices, not sale prices, to find the ones you can make for under $10 for the whole recipe. Some are Armenian recipes from my family, and some are the easy dinners and sides on repeat at our house.

How I Priced These Recipes

Every total is the cost of the amount the recipe actually uses, not the full package. I start with the national average grocery prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, then use Kroger regular prices for anything not tracked nationally, and Papaya Express for specialty items like coarse bulgur. Sales and coupons are not included, so you will often pay less. Prices vary by store and region.

Our Most Popular Budget Recipes Under $10

1

Armenian Yogurt Soup (Tutmaj Abour)

A creamy, tangy Armenian yogurt soup with small shell pasta, onion and dried mint. Our most loved soup on the blog. About $8.58 for 8 servings ($1.07 a serving).

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2

Armenian Rice Pilaf

Long grain rice toasted with golden vermicelli and simmered in broth. A simple side that goes with almost everything. About $2.92 for 6 servings (49 cents a serving).

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3

Armenian Bulgur Pilaf

Coarse bulgur toasted with vermicelli in butter. My grandmother's recipe. About $3.04 for 10 servings (30 cents a serving).

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4

Grandma's Red Tabouli — Armenian Eech Recipe

Grandma Mary's red tabouli with fine bulgur, tomato paste, parsley and lemon. No cooking needed. About $4.27 for 6 servings (71 cents a serving).

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5

Easy Spanish Rice Recipe

Stovetop Spanish rice with canned diced tomatoes and taco seasoning. Perfect for taco night. About $3.89 for 6 servings (65 cents a serving).

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6

Mujadara (Lentils, Rice, and Fried Onions)

Lentils and rice with cumin and crispy caramelized onions. A filling meatless dinner that feeds 12. About $6.00 for 12 servings (50 cents a serving).

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7

Crispy Roasted Yellow Potatoes

Golden, crispy edges from a British style roasting method, with garlic, red onion and rosemary. About $8.10 for 6 servings ($1.35 a serving).

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8

Cilantro Lime Cabbage Slaw (No Mayo)

Shredded cabbage, cilantro and red onion in a bright lime dressing. Ready in 10 minutes. About $6.48 for 6 servings ($1.08 a serving).

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9

Easy Cucumber Salad with Lemon and Sumac

Crisp Persian cucumbers, parsley and red onion in a lemon sumac dressing. About $4.35 for 5 servings (87 cents a serving).

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10

Homemade Boxed-Style Mac and Cheese

Tastes like the boxed kind, made with real cheese in 20 minutes. Feeds 8. About $6.39 for 8 servings (80 cents a serving).

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11

Lemon Egg Soup

Chicken broth, egg noodles, egg and fresh lemon juice. Ready in 20 minutes. About $2.49 for 4 servings (62 cents a serving).

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12

Pasta Rosa Recipe

Pasta in a creamy tomato sauce with mushrooms, spinach and parmesan in 15 minutes. About $7.54 for 5 servings ($1.51 a serving).

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13

Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Spaghetti in a creamy garlic parmesan sauce. A fast weeknight dinner. About $6.42 for 6 servings ($1.07 a serving).

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14

Super Simple Fall Minestrone Soup

A hearty vegetable soup with two kinds of beans and small pasta. About $9.06 for 6 servings ($1.51 a serving).

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Tips for Cooking on a Budget

• Build meals around grains and lentils. Rice, bulgur and lentils are some of the cheapest, most filling foods in the store.
• Buy spices once. A jar of cumin or Aleppo pepper costs a few dollars, but each recipe only uses pennies of it.
• Cook the whole pot. Most of these feed 6 to 12, so leftovers turn into lunch.
• Swap freely. Use whatever pasta shape, onion or broth you already have.

Budget Recipes FAQ

What is the cheapest recipe on this list?
Lemon egg soup is the lowest total at about $2.49, and bulgur pilaf is the cheapest per serving at about 30 cents.

Are these prices for the whole recipe?
Yes. Each price is the cost to make the full recipe, with the per serving price next to it.

Do these prices include sales?
No. They use average and regular prices from November 2026, so with sales and coupons you can often make them for less.

More Budget Recipes

Need a little more room in the budget? See my budget dinners under $20, full family dinners that cost between $10 and $20 to make.

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